Late Night OTB – Tyler Childers

Tonight's installment is a rarity: a breakout artist who I've discovered more-or-less in real time.

Tonight’s installment is a rarity: a breakout artist who I’ve discovered more-or-less in real time, if by sheer accident.

Tyler Childers is only 26, although he sounds twice that age. He put out a self-released album called Bottles and Bibles back in 2011 but his second album, Purgatory, didn’t come out until last August. It was co-produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, both of whom are Grammy winners if not household names.

The first songs of his that I stumbled on, via YouTube, were from a four-song EP called Live on Red Barn Radio released in late 2013.

“Keep Your Nose on the Grindstone”

“Shake the Frost”

This one, “Hard Times,” from Bottles and Bibles, is also quite good:

“Whitehouse Road” is from the Purgatory album:

Finally, “Follow You to Virgie,” from his 2014 Live on Red Barn Radio II EP:

He really catches my attention in that first video. That ended up being my favorite, because the others were too country for my personal taste. But honestly, he could probably sing anything he wanted because he’s got the gift; lyrics ain’t bad either.